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Students at Jacksonville’s elite schools discuss racism — often anonymously

June 17, 2020
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  • Florida Drama Teacher Who Includes Deaf Students In School Shows Will Receive A Special Tony Award

The special Tony Award that honors educators will go this year to a drama teacher in Florida who has closed the gap between the deaf and hearing worlds by having productions performed in both voice and American Sign Language.

Jason Zembuch-Young, artistic director of the public South Plantation High School, in Plantation, Florida, is being honored for “empowering every student to make and be part of theater.”

“I didn’t start out with a mission of let’s be as inclusive as we possibly can. I’ve always championed the underdog because I kind of relate to that,” he told The Associated Press ahead of the formal Wednesday announcement. “What made sense to me was if there’s somebody that’s standing in front of you and they want to work, well, let’s put them to work and let’s figure out a way to have them be as successful as they possibly can.”

Zembuch-Young runs a theater department with more than 150 students participating, which includes putting on both a full-length musical and a play each year and asking his team to be conversant in ASL. He also operates a six-week summer-stock theater camp for elementary and middle school students, using high school drama students as counselors and mentors.

Link in bio 

#rpak12 #pineapplereport #floridateacher #dramateacher #deafstudents #schoolshows #tonyaward #educators #education #teachers #floridanews #deaf #voice #americansignlanguage #theater #students #specialaward
  • Central Florida Teachers Unions Work Around New Restrictions On Dues Collection

Central Florida unions are getting creative when it comes to collecting members’ dues after a law passed making it illegal to deduct these fees from a person’s paycheck.

Ron Pollard is the local president of Orange Education Support Professionals Association. He says without dues, unions die.

Pollard is helping teachers and support staff sign up for an alternative payment platform called e-dues through the Florida Education Association.

“Well, it’s their own personal payment just as you would pay Netflix or any other entities, gym membership or whatever, that’s what it’s about,” said Pollard. “It’s just another way for them to pay their union dues to keep their union strong.”

Under the new law, 60 percent of all professionals represented by a union must be enrolled in that union in order for it to operate in Florida.

Link in bio 

#rpak12 #pineapplereport #centralflorida #floridateachers #teachersunion #duescollection #restriction #centralfloridaunions #membersdue #law #fees #paycheck #oespa #paymentplatforms #newlaw #desantis #rondesantis #union
  • ‘Wave’ Of Litigation Expected As Schools Fight Social Media Companies

About 40 and counting school districts across the country are suing social media companies over claims that their apps are addictive, damaging to students’ mental health, and causing adverse impacts on schools and other government resources.

Many of these lawsuits, which were originally filed in a variety of court jurisdictions, were consolidated into one 281-page multidistrict litigation claim filed March 10 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Plaintiffs in the case include school districts, individuals and local and state governments. In total, there are about 235 plaintiffs.

The product liability complaint seeks unspecified monetary damages, as well as injunctive relief ordering each defendant to remedy certain design features on their platforms and provide warnings to youth and parents that its products are “addictive and pose a clear and present danger to unsuspecting minors.” 

Link in bio 

#rpak12 #pineapplereport #wave #litigation #schools #socialmedia #socialmediacompanies #companies #schooldistricts #meta #snapchat #tiktok #youtube #teen #mentalhealth #problems #mentalhealthproblems #mentalillness #lawsuits #local #state #governments #boardofeducation #education #development #risks
  • Florida Law Allows Cameras To Nab Drivers Who Pass School Buses

School districts in Florida soon will be able to use cameras to capture images of drivers who illegally pass school buses.

The law (SB 766), signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, will take effect in July. It could lead to drivers facing $225 fines if they get nabbed.

The Florida Department of Education last year conducted a survey of school-bus drivers and found widespread instances of vehicles illegally passing stopped buses.

“The survey results from 2022 show that on a single day, 7,867 illegal passes were made based on the observations of 6,416 school bus drivers who completed the survey,” a Senate staff analysis of the bill said.

The bill will allow school districts to contract with companies to install cameras on school buses. Each camera will have to be capable of producing a recorded video and two or more still images documenting infractions. The law also will prevent the contractors from getting paid based on the number of violations detected.

Link in bio 

#rpak12 #pineapplereport #floridalaw #cameras #drivers #schoolbuses #busdrivers #schooldistricts #floridaschools #floridanews #rondesantis #desantis #education #schools #nabbed #floridadepartmentofeducation #departmentofeducation #vehicles #senate #safety #communicty #students
  • 21 Attorney Generals: Don’t Let Schools Make Gender Identity Decisions Without Parents

A coalition of 21 state attorneys general are taking a stand in favor of Florida parents who sued their school district for allegedly violating their rights regarding their children’s gender confusion and the use of different pronouns while at school.

The attorneys general filed an amicus brief in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals Tuesday supporting parents January and Jeffrey Littlejohn. The brief argues that Leon County School District’s policy violated parents’ rights by allowing administrators to make decisions about a child’s gender identity without notifying parents and even going against their explicit wishes.

“When a student considers transitioning gender, parents have a fundamental, constitutional right to be involved in that decisionmaking process,” the brief argues. “Yet school districts nationwide, strong-armed by ideologically driven advocacy groups, have shut parents out of the process and trampled on their fundamental rights.”

Link in bio 

#rpak12 #pineapplereport #attorneygenerals #schools #genderidentity #decisions #parents #equality #genderidentitydecisions #stateattorney #stateattorneygenerals #floridanews #floridaparents #genderconfusion #pronouns #school #students #lgbtq #lesbian #gay #bisexual #tansgender #support
  • Hernando School Board Votes In Favor Of Superintendent Amid Calls For Resignation

Hernando County school board members voted 3-2 in favor of Superintendent John Stratton during Tuesday’s 8-hour meeting.

Earlier in the month Jenna Barbee, a fifth-grade teacher at Winding Waters K-8 showed students Disney’s ‘Strange World’. The PG-rated movie includes the depiction of a gay teenager. Barbee admitted she didn’t receive the required approval before showing the film.

Prior to the incident, Barbee filed her resignation with the Hernando County School District. According to documents, her last day employed by the district is June 2.

School board member Shannon Rodriguez reported the situation to the Florida Department of Education. The state launched an investigation and interviewed students.

Link in bio 

#rpak12 #pineapplereport #hernandoschoolboard #schoolboardvotes #superintendent #resignation #hernandocounty #hernandocountyschools #hernandocountyschoolboard #voting #votes #leaders #leadership #leadersinschool #communityleaders #disney #strangeworld #movies #movie #legislators #legislation #schoolboard #education #floridanews
  • Florida Department Of Education Teeing Up New Controversial Rules Signed By Gov. DeSantis

The Florida Department of Education is gearing up to begin crafting rules to carry out a number of measures approved by state lawmakers and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, including some proposals that were among the most controversial issues from the 2023 legislative session.

The department is slated on June 9 to hold a series of online rule-development workshops that would help implement the new laws.

One of the measures (HB 1521), signed by DeSantis on May 17, will require people to use the bathroom that lines up with their sex assigned at birth. The new law, which goes into effect July 1, applies to the use of restrooms at public and private schools, as well as “public buildings” such as airports, state and local government buildings, prisons, and jails.

A notice of the education department’s rule-development workshop said its “purpose and effect” is to “align the rule with new legislative changes … that prohibit a district policy that allows separation for any criteria other than biological sex at birth.”

Link in bio 

#rpak12 #pineapplereport #floridadepartmentofeducation #controversialrules #desantis #rondesantis #floridanews #floridaeducation #departmentofeducation #state #lawmakers #legislativesession #development #workshops #educationdepartment #restrooms #publicschools #privateschools #purpose #effect #lgbtq #advocacy #stateboardofeducation #educationstate
  • Interim Superintendent Appointed To Lead Escambia County Schools

he Escambia County school board appointed Human Resources Director Keith Leonard to be interim superintendent starting Thursday. Dr. Tim Smith was fired on May 16.

“We’re going to continue to work on the tree and the branches of the tree by getting to the roots and we’re going to work on the foundation of the Escambia County School District,” Leonard said. “You can count on it now. You can count on it tomorrow.”

Several people argued during public forum that Deputy Superintendent Shenna Payne should have been the first one considered.
“For Ms. Payne not to even be considered, for her name not to even come up, that is almost an embarrassment for this board…I was totally embarrassed,” one woman said.

Payne spoke up during the meeting calling for unity.

“Let’s do this together,” she said. “Enough is enough.”

Link in bio 

#rpak12 #pineapplereport #interimsuperintendent #escambiacounty #escambiacountyschools #escambiaschools #escambiaschoolboard #schoolboard #superintendent #foundation #sunshinlaw #leaders #leadership #leadersinschools #communityleader #education
  • OSCEOLA SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNOUNCES FOUR FINALISTS FOR SUPERINTENDENT POSITION

A special meeting was convened by School District of Osceola County’s board members on Tuesday to select the four finalists for the Superintendent Search. The new superintendent will replace retiring superintendent Dr. Debra Pace, who has served in that position for seven years. The following individuals have been identified as the final candidates for the position:

Candidate #4: Dr. Michael Allen
Candidate #14: Terrence L. Connor
Applicant #15: Dr. Ann Hembrook
Applicant #25: Dr. Mark Shanoff

To engage with the community and allow for public participation, the four finalists will be visiting the school district on June 5th and 6th. During those days, they will undergo public interviews conducted by the School Board, which will be live-streamed. Additionally, the candidates will have the opportunity to tour the school district and participate in private meetings with individual School Board Members.

Link in bio 

#rpak12 #pineapplereport #osceolaschool #schooldistrict #fourfinalists #superintendent #superintendentposition #superintendentsearch #community #public #leaders #leadersinschool #leadership #schoolboardmembers #schooldistricts #schools #communitymeet #meetandgreet #schoolboard
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‘Wave’ of litigation expected as schools fight social media companies
June 1, 2023
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Florida law allows cameras to nab drivers who pass school buses
June 1, 2023
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21 attorney generals: Don’t let schools make gender identity decisions without parents
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  • Florida Drama Teacher Who Includes Deaf Students In School Shows Will Receive A Special Tony Award

The special Tony Award that honors educators will go this year to a drama teacher in Florida who has closed the gap between the deaf and hearing worlds by having productions performed in both voice and American Sign Language.

Jason Zembuch-Young, artistic director of the public South Plantation High School, in Plantation, Florida, is being honored for “empowering every student to make and be part of theater.”

“I didn’t start out with a mission of let’s be as inclusive as we possibly can. I’ve always championed the underdog because I kind of relate to that,” he told The Associated Press ahead of the formal Wednesday announcement. “What made sense to me was if there’s somebody that’s standing in front of you and they want to work, well, let’s put them to work and let’s figure out a way to have them be as successful as they possibly can.”

Zembuch-Young runs a theater department with more than 150 students participating, which includes putting on both a full-length musical and a play each year and asking his team to be conversant in ASL. He also operates a six-week summer-stock theater camp for elementary and middle school students, using high school drama students as counselors and mentors.

Link in bio 

#rpak12 #pineapplereport #floridateacher #dramateacher #deafstudents #schoolshows #tonyaward #educators #education #teachers #floridanews #deaf #voice #americansignlanguage #theater #students #specialaward
  • Central Florida Teachers Unions Work Around New Restrictions On Dues Collection

Central Florida unions are getting creative when it comes to collecting members’ dues after a law passed making it illegal to deduct these fees from a person’s paycheck.

Ron Pollard is the local president of Orange Education Support Professionals Association. He says without dues, unions die.

Pollard is helping teachers and support staff sign up for an alternative payment platform called e-dues through the Florida Education Association.

“Well, it’s their own personal payment just as you would pay Netflix or any other entities, gym membership or whatever, that’s what it’s about,” said Pollard. “It’s just another way for them to pay their union dues to keep their union strong.”

Under the new law, 60 percent of all professionals represented by a union must be enrolled in that union in order for it to operate in Florida.

Link in bio 

#rpak12 #pineapplereport #centralflorida #floridateachers #teachersunion #duescollection #restriction #centralfloridaunions #membersdue #law #fees #paycheck #oespa #paymentplatforms #newlaw #desantis #rondesantis #union
  • ‘Wave’ Of Litigation Expected As Schools Fight Social Media Companies

About 40 and counting school districts across the country are suing social media companies over claims that their apps are addictive, damaging to students’ mental health, and causing adverse impacts on schools and other government resources.

Many of these lawsuits, which were originally filed in a variety of court jurisdictions, were consolidated into one 281-page multidistrict litigation claim filed March 10 in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California. Plaintiffs in the case include school districts, individuals and local and state governments. In total, there are about 235 plaintiffs.

The product liability complaint seeks unspecified monetary damages, as well as injunctive relief ordering each defendant to remedy certain design features on their platforms and provide warnings to youth and parents that its products are “addictive and pose a clear and present danger to unsuspecting minors.” 

Link in bio 

#rpak12 #pineapplereport #wave #litigation #schools #socialmedia #socialmediacompanies #companies #schooldistricts #meta #snapchat #tiktok #youtube #teen #mentalhealth #problems #mentalhealthproblems #mentalillness #lawsuits #local #state #governments #boardofeducation #education #development #risks
  • Florida Law Allows Cameras To Nab Drivers Who Pass School Buses

School districts in Florida soon will be able to use cameras to capture images of drivers who illegally pass school buses.

The law (SB 766), signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis on Wednesday, will take effect in July. It could lead to drivers facing $225 fines if they get nabbed.

The Florida Department of Education last year conducted a survey of school-bus drivers and found widespread instances of vehicles illegally passing stopped buses.

“The survey results from 2022 show that on a single day, 7,867 illegal passes were made based on the observations of 6,416 school bus drivers who completed the survey,” a Senate staff analysis of the bill said.

The bill will allow school districts to contract with companies to install cameras on school buses. Each camera will have to be capable of producing a recorded video and two or more still images documenting infractions. The law also will prevent the contractors from getting paid based on the number of violations detected.

Link in bio 

#rpak12 #pineapplereport #floridalaw #cameras #drivers #schoolbuses #busdrivers #schooldistricts #floridaschools #floridanews #rondesantis #desantis #education #schools #nabbed #floridadepartmentofeducation #departmentofeducation #vehicles #senate #safety #communicty #students
  • 21 Attorney Generals: Don’t Let Schools Make Gender Identity Decisions Without Parents

A coalition of 21 state attorneys general are taking a stand in favor of Florida parents who sued their school district for allegedly violating their rights regarding their children’s gender confusion and the use of different pronouns while at school.

The attorneys general filed an amicus brief in the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals Tuesday supporting parents January and Jeffrey Littlejohn. The brief argues that Leon County School District’s policy violated parents’ rights by allowing administrators to make decisions about a child’s gender identity without notifying parents and even going against their explicit wishes.

“When a student considers transitioning gender, parents have a fundamental, constitutional right to be involved in that decisionmaking process,” the brief argues. “Yet school districts nationwide, strong-armed by ideologically driven advocacy groups, have shut parents out of the process and trampled on their fundamental rights.”

Link in bio 

#rpak12 #pineapplereport #attorneygenerals #schools #genderidentity #decisions #parents #equality #genderidentitydecisions #stateattorney #stateattorneygenerals #floridanews #floridaparents #genderconfusion #pronouns #school #students #lgbtq #lesbian #gay #bisexual #tansgender #support
  • Hernando School Board Votes In Favor Of Superintendent Amid Calls For Resignation

Hernando County school board members voted 3-2 in favor of Superintendent John Stratton during Tuesday’s 8-hour meeting.

Earlier in the month Jenna Barbee, a fifth-grade teacher at Winding Waters K-8 showed students Disney’s ‘Strange World’. The PG-rated movie includes the depiction of a gay teenager. Barbee admitted she didn’t receive the required approval before showing the film.

Prior to the incident, Barbee filed her resignation with the Hernando County School District. According to documents, her last day employed by the district is June 2.

School board member Shannon Rodriguez reported the situation to the Florida Department of Education. The state launched an investigation and interviewed students.

Link in bio 

#rpak12 #pineapplereport #hernandoschoolboard #schoolboardvotes #superintendent #resignation #hernandocounty #hernandocountyschools #hernandocountyschoolboard #voting #votes #leaders #leadership #leadersinschool #communityleaders #disney #strangeworld #movies #movie #legislators #legislation #schoolboard #education #floridanews
  • Florida Department Of Education Teeing Up New Controversial Rules Signed By Gov. DeSantis

The Florida Department of Education is gearing up to begin crafting rules to carry out a number of measures approved by state lawmakers and signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis, including some proposals that were among the most controversial issues from the 2023 legislative session.

The department is slated on June 9 to hold a series of online rule-development workshops that would help implement the new laws.

One of the measures (HB 1521), signed by DeSantis on May 17, will require people to use the bathroom that lines up with their sex assigned at birth. The new law, which goes into effect July 1, applies to the use of restrooms at public and private schools, as well as “public buildings” such as airports, state and local government buildings, prisons, and jails.

A notice of the education department’s rule-development workshop said its “purpose and effect” is to “align the rule with new legislative changes … that prohibit a district policy that allows separation for any criteria other than biological sex at birth.”

Link in bio 

#rpak12 #pineapplereport #floridadepartmentofeducation #controversialrules #desantis #rondesantis #floridanews #floridaeducation #departmentofeducation #state #lawmakers #legislativesession #development #workshops #educationdepartment #restrooms #publicschools #privateschools #purpose #effect #lgbtq #advocacy #stateboardofeducation #educationstate
  • Interim Superintendent Appointed To Lead Escambia County Schools

he Escambia County school board appointed Human Resources Director Keith Leonard to be interim superintendent starting Thursday. Dr. Tim Smith was fired on May 16.

“We’re going to continue to work on the tree and the branches of the tree by getting to the roots and we’re going to work on the foundation of the Escambia County School District,” Leonard said. “You can count on it now. You can count on it tomorrow.”

Several people argued during public forum that Deputy Superintendent Shenna Payne should have been the first one considered.
“For Ms. Payne not to even be considered, for her name not to even come up, that is almost an embarrassment for this board…I was totally embarrassed,” one woman said.

Payne spoke up during the meeting calling for unity.

“Let’s do this together,” she said. “Enough is enough.”

Link in bio 

#rpak12 #pineapplereport #interimsuperintendent #escambiacounty #escambiacountyschools #escambiaschools #escambiaschoolboard #schoolboard #superintendent #foundation #sunshinlaw #leaders #leadership #leadersinschools #communityleader #education
  • OSCEOLA SCHOOL DISTRICT ANNOUNCES FOUR FINALISTS FOR SUPERINTENDENT POSITION

A special meeting was convened by School District of Osceola County’s board members on Tuesday to select the four finalists for the Superintendent Search. The new superintendent will replace retiring superintendent Dr. Debra Pace, who has served in that position for seven years. The following individuals have been identified as the final candidates for the position:

Candidate #4: Dr. Michael Allen
Candidate #14: Terrence L. Connor
Applicant #15: Dr. Ann Hembrook
Applicant #25: Dr. Mark Shanoff

To engage with the community and allow for public participation, the four finalists will be visiting the school district on June 5th and 6th. During those days, they will undergo public interviews conducted by the School Board, which will be live-streamed. Additionally, the candidates will have the opportunity to tour the school district and participate in private meetings with individual School Board Members.

Link in bio 

#rpak12 #pineapplereport #osceolaschool #schooldistrict #fourfinalists #superintendent #superintendentposition #superintendentsearch #community #public #leaders #leadersinschool #leadership #schoolboardmembers #schooldistricts #schools #communitymeet #meetandgreet #schoolboard
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